Conveyor



968 v R. c. SCHEL'L 3,411,614

CONVEYOR Original Filed April 18, 1966 4 Sneets-Sheet 1 To SizingMachine l4b I40 30 4 INVENTOR. 0 24 ROBERT c. SCHELL A Harney R. C.SCHELL Nov. 19, 1968 CONVEYOR /NVE/VTOR. ROBERT c. SCHELL AI rarney 0 IBy Nov. 19, 1968 RQSCHELL 3,411,614

CONVEYOR Original Filed April 18, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 30 /0 420 36a42a I 1 42 l] as I INVENTOR.

ROBERT c. SCHELL Attorney Nov. 19, 1968 R. c. SCHELL 3,411,614

CONVEYOR Original Filed April 18, 196(5 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 "FE, .7. FIE:B-

3a 38 My INVENTO/i'. ROBE/'7 T 6. SCHELL A Hamey United States Patent3,411,614 CONVEYOR Robert C. Schell, Penn Hills Township, AlleghenyCounty,

Pa., assignor to United States Steel Corporation, a corpartition ofDelaware Continuation of application Ser. No. 543,370, Apr. 18, 1966.This application June 6, 1967, Ser. No. 644,030

12 Claims. (Cl. 198173) 3 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This is acontinuation of Ser. No, 543,370, filed Apr. 18, 1966, now abandoned.

Heretofore, conventional conveyors of the constant speed type used, forexample, fixed work spacing means, such as fixed dogs, to conveyworkpieces, such as pipe of varying diameter, in spaced relation througha work opera; tion, such as a heat-treating furnace, Such fixed dogs arecarried usually, for example, by alternate links of the conveyor. Thepitch between the fixed dogs may be, for example, about 9 inches and thesize of pipe handled by the conveyor may range from about 4 /2 inchesCD. to 13% inches O.D. Minimum heat-treating time in seconds or conveyorspeed in the furnace is estimated as about 120 times the wall thicknessof a pipe with a maximum furnace rating of about 30 tons/hour. It isobvious that small sizes of pipe less than about 6 inches CD. are spacedwith an inefliciently large pitch on the conveyor and that the quantityof such small sizes of pipe is far below such maximum furnace output,

One conventional but manually operable work spacing means heretoforeutilized to overcome the defects of the prior art is shown in US. PatentNo. 1,371,968, issued MarjlS, 1921,'to F. H. Clement,

It is the general object of the present invention to avoid and overcomethe foregoing and other difficulties of and objections to prior artpractices by the provision of an improved spacing and moving assemblyfor a conveyor system, which assembly:

(1)- efficiently handles a wide range of sizes of workpieces;

(2) minimizes the pitch spacing of the workpieces;

(3) automatically adapts itself to the size of the workpieces beinghandled; and

(4) is self-righting.

The aforesaid objects of the present invention, and other objects whichwill become apparent as the description proceeds, are achieved byproviding. a spacing and moving assembly for a conveyor system for fortransporting tubular objects and having a frame, a first guide means anda second guide means disposed in spaced relation on the frame, endlessmoving means disposed about, supported by and movable on the first guidemeans and the second guide means, and stationary skid means adjacent theendless conveying means for supporting the tubular objects. This spacingand moving assembly has a first spacing and driving means mounted on theendless moving means and a second spacing and driving means mounted onthe endless moving means in predetermined spaced relation to anddefining with the first spacing and 3,411,614 Patented Nov. 19, 1968driving means an object receiving space. The second spacing and drivingmeans is pivotable on the endless moving means with respect to the firstspacing and driving means to increase the object receiving space betweenthe first spacing and driving means and the second spacing and drivingmeans.

For a better understanding of the present invention reference should behad to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals of referenceindicate similar parts throughout the several views and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a heat-treating furnace and conveyor systemembodying the improved moving and spacing assembly of the invention andshowing a charging conveyor, transfer device and discharging conveyor;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal sectional view of a. portion of theheat-treating furnace taken along the lines IIII of FIGURE 1 in thedirection of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partially in section,of the conveyor system taken along the lines IIIIII of FIGURE 1 in thedirection of the arrows and showing pipe disposed between the moving andspacing assemblies;

FIGURE 3A is a fragmentary side elevational view of the charging end ofthe conveyor system showing the self-righting feature of the pivotabledogs;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of two links of conveyor chain and eliminatingthe dogs for clarity;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view showing afixed dog and a pivotal dog;

FIGURE 6 is an end elevational view of the pivotable dog shown in FIGURE5;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view similar to FIGURE 3 ofan alternative embodiment of the conveyor system and showing a conveyorbelt;

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 showing an unsupported conveyorchain;

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 showing use of the conveyor chainfor non-circular workpieces; and

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to FIGURES 7, 9 showing two adjacentpivotable dogs.

Although the principles of the present invention are broadly applicableto conveying systems in general, the present invention is particularlyadapted for use in conjunction with a heat-treating furnace and hence ithas been so illustrated and will be so described.

With specific reference to the form of the present invention illustratedin the drawings, and referring par ticularly to FIGURE -1, elongatedobjects, such as a steel seamless drill pipe, are indicated generally bythe reference numeral 10.

Such drill pipe 10 (FIGURES 1-3, 3A, 7, 8) is disposed on a chargingtable 12 (FIGURE 1) where each drill pipe 10 is inspected for heatnumber, wall thickness, grade and the like and is then fed onto acharging conveyor 14 utilized to deliver a drill pipe 10 against a stop16 adjacent a transfer device 18. The charging conveyor 14 has rolls 14a(FIGURE 1) individually driven by motors 14b. Arms 18a on shaft 18b ofthe transfer device 18 are driven by a motor 18d. This transfer device18 lifts the drill pipe 10 from the charging conveyor 14 and depositsthe drill pipe 10 on a plurality of skids 18c and thence onto conveyorsystems 20 for transporting the drill pipe 10 through a heat-treatingfurnace 22.

Referring now to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, each conveyor system 20 has a frame24 (FIGURES 2, 3, 3A) and a first guide means and a second guide means,such as the sprockets 26, 28 (FIGURES 1, 3, 3A) disposed in spacedrelation on the frame 24. Endless moving means, such as a link chain 30(FIGURES 1-3, 3A, 4-6), are disposed URE 1. The link chain 30 rolls onrollers 40b along the frame 24 when such link chain 30 is in the upperposition or in the work spacing and moving position (shown in FIGURE 3).Adjacent the link chain 30 are stationary skid means, such as thechannels or rails 34 (FIGURES 1-3, 3A), for supporting the drill pipe 10during its rolling path of movement through the heat-treating furnace22.

The improved spacing and moving assembly of this invention has a firstspacing and moving means, such as the fixed dogs 36 (FIGURES 2, 3, 3A,5), mounted at 41 (FIGURES 3, 3A on side bars 38 (FIGURES 25, 3A) oflinks 40 of the link chain 30. The links 40 are connected together bypins 40a (FIGURES 26, 3A) carrying rollers 40!) which ride on the frame24. Each fixed dog 36 also carries a roller 36a on its free end. Asecond moving and spacing means, such as the pivotable dogs 42 (FIGURES3-6, 3A), are mounted at 44 (FIGURES 3, 3A, 5, 6) on the side bars 38and define with the fixed dogs 36 an object receiving space having awidth either L or L (FIGURE 3). Referring to FIGURE 3A, theself-righting dog 42 assumes the desired position normal to the links 40adjacent the sprocket 28 when such pivotable dog 42 is substantiallyhorizontal with a first portion thereof, namely the shoulders 42b,engageable with the link chain 30 at the side bars 38 (FIGURES 5, 6) tolimit the pivot of the pivotable dog 42 in one direction of pivot,namely clockwise direction (FIGURE 5). Alternatively the leg 42c is usedto limit the pivot. The pivotable dogs 42 carry rollers 42a (FIG'URES 3,3A, 5, 6) on their free or upper ends. When drill pipe 10, having adiameter less than L is positioned on the rails 34 between a fixed dog36 and a pivotable dog 42, the pivotable dog 42 remains in the uprightposition shown in the left-hand portion of FIGURE 3. However, when adrill pipe 10, having a diameter greater than L is received on theconveyor systems 20, the pivotable dog 42, pivoted at 44 on the sidebars 38, is moved by the large drill pipe against the adjacent fixed dog36, as shown in the right-hand portion of FIGURE 3, with a secondportion thereof, namely the roller 42a, engageable with the fixed dog 36to limit the pivot of the pivotable dog 42 in the other direction,namely counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 5, therebyincreasing the object receiving space to a distance L The left hand leg420 of the lower portion 42d of the pivotable dog 42 as viewed in FIGURE5 is secured at 44 to the side links 38 by connecting means, such as abolt 44a (FIGURE 6) extending through holes 38a (FIGURE 5) in the sidelinks 38 and a hole 42:: in the lower portion 42d, washers 44b (FIGURE6) and a nut 440. The fixed dog 36 has a lower portion 36d (FIGURE 5)substantially identical to the lower portion 42d of the pivotable dog 42and such lower portion 36d is secured at points 41 by two connectingmeans which are substantially identical to the connecting means at 44(FIGURE 6) for the pivotable dog 42.

After the conveyor systems transports the drill pipe 10 through theheat-treating furnace 22 and onto rails 45 (FIGURES 1, 3), the drillpipe 10 rolls down the rails 45 onto a discharging conveyor 46, whichdischarging conveyor 46 transport the heat-treated drill pipe 10 to thenext work function, such as pipe shaping in a sizing machine (notshown). This discharging conveyor 46 has rolls 46a driven by a motor 46b(FIGURE 1).

Alternative embodiments It will be understood by those skilled in theart that alternatively, as shown in FIGURE 7, the side bar 38 may bemounted on a conveyor belt 48 by means of pins or rivets 50 when theconveyor system 20' is adapted for use in a cooler work zone outside thefurnace 22. In this embodiment the belt 48 slides on rollers 52 on theframe 24. In FIGURE 8 the link chain is suspended 4 between thesprockets 26, 28, does not have the rollers 40b of FIGURES 3, 3A anddoes not roll on the frame 24.

FIGURE 9 shows a conveyor system adapted for spacing and movingnon-circular work pieces such as slabs, blooms, shapes 10 and the like.In this embodiment the rails 34 are provided with rollers 54. In FIGURE10 two pivotable dogs 42 are disposed adjacent each other to provide agreater work space L It will be recognized by those skilled in the artthat the objects of the present invention have been achieved byproviding improved work spacing means for a conveyor system, which workspacing means efficiently handles a wide range of sizes of workpieces,minimizes the pitch spacing of the workpieces, automatically adaptsitself to the size of the workpieces being handled and is self-righting.

While in accordance with the patent statutes preferred and alternativeembodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and describedin detail, it is to be particularly understood that the invention is notlimited thereto or thereby.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination:

(a) .a conveyor for transporting tubular objects and having a frame, afirst guide means and a second guide means disposed in spaced relationon said frame, and endless moving means disposed about, supported by amovable on said first guide means and said second guide means, and

(b) a spacing and moving assembly having:

(1) a first spacing and driving means having a first mounting portion,

(2) a first connecting means for pivotably conmeeting said firstmounting portion to said endless moving means,

(3) a second connecting means spaced from said first connecting meansfor fixedly connecting said first mounting portion to said endlessmoving means,

(4) a second spacing and driving means having a second mounting portionsubstantially identical to said first mounting portion,

(5) a third connecting means for pivotably connecting said secondmounting portion to said endless moving means in predetermined spacedrelation to said first mounting portion,

(a) said second spacing and driving means defining with said firstspacing and driving means an object receiving space, and being pivotablewith respect to said endless moving means to vary the object receivingspace between said first spacing and driving means and said secondspacing and driving means,

(b) said second connecting means being removable from said firstmounting means and said endless moving means to permit pivotablemovement of said first spacing and driving means with respect to saidendless moving means, and

(c) said second connecting means being connectable to said secondmounting means and said endless moving means in predetermined spacedrelation to said third securing means to fixedly connect said secondspacing and driving means to said endless moving means.

2. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said second mountingportion has a first free end portion adjacent said pivot engageable withsaid endless moving means to limit the pivotable movement of said secondspacing and driving means in one direction of pivotable movement andsaid second spacing and driving means has a second free end portionengageable with said first spacing and moving means to limit thepivotable movement of said second spacing and driving means in the otherdirection of pivotable movement.

3. The combination recited in claim 1 and having stationary skit meansadjacent said endless moving means for supporting said tubular objects.

4. The combination recited in claim 3 wherein said stationary skid meanshas rolling means for supporting said tubular objects.

5. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said endless moving meansis a link chain.

6. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said endless moving meansis a conveyor belt.

7. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein another second spacing anddriving means is similarly mounted on said endless moving means inpredetermined spaced relation to said second spacing and driving meansto fiurther vary said object receiving space.

8. In combination:

(a) a conveyor for transporting tubular objects and having a frame, afirst guide means and a second guide means disposed in spaced relationon said frame, and endless moving means disposed about, supported by.and movable on said first guide means 'and said second guide means,

(1) said endless moving means having a plurality of links provided 'withside bars,

(b) a spacing and moving assembly having:

(1) a first spacing and driving means having a first mounting portion,

(2) a first connecting means for pivotably connecting said firstmounting portion to the side bars of one link of said endless movingmeans,

(3) a second connecting means spaced from said first connecting meansfor fixedly connecting said first mounting portion to said side bars ofsaid one link,

(4) a second spacing and driving means having a second mounting portionsubstantially identical to said first mounting portion,

(5) a third connecting means for pivotably connecting said secondmounting portion to the side bars of a second link of said endlessmoving means in predetermined spaced relation to said first mountingportion,

(a) said second spacing and driving means defining with said firstspacing and driving means an object receiving space, and being pivotablewith respect to said endless moving means to vary the object receivingspace between said first spacing and driving means and said secondspacing and driving means,

(b) said second connecting means being removable from said firstmounting means and said side bars of said one link to permit pivotablemovement of said first spacing and driving means with respect to saidendless moving means, and

(c) said second connecting means being connectable to said secondmounting means and said side bars of said second link in predeterminedspaced relation to said third connecting means to fixedly connect saidsecond spacing and driving means to said endless moving means.

9. The combination recited in claim 8 wherein said second mountingportion has a shoulder portion adjacent said pivot engageable with saidside bars of said second link of said endless moving means to limit thepivotable movement of said second spacing and driving means in onedirection of pivotable movement and said second spacing and drivingmeans has a second free end portion engageable with said first spacingand moving means to limit the pivotable movement of said second spacingand driving means in the other direction of pivotable movement.

10. The combination recited in claim 8 and having stationary skid meansadjacent said endless moving means for supporting said tubular objects.

11. The combination recited in claim 10 wherein said stationary skidmeans has rolling means for supporting said tubular objects.

12. The combination recited in claim 8 wherein another second spacingand driving means is similarly mounted on said endless moving means apredetermined spaced relation to said second spacing and driving meansto further vary said object receiving space.

EDWARD A. SROKA, Primary Examiner.

